Technip and Japan's Toyo Engineering were earlier said to be interested but didn't submit EoIs by the July 20 deadline. "H-Gas has been quick in floating a tender for the project," says a likely bidder.

Usually companies evaluate EoIs for at least a month. But just four days after it received EoIs, H-Gas told all contractors they were qualified on July 24.

H-Gas issued the EPC tender on August 7, selling tender documents for Rs1 Lakh ($1600). H-Gas, a subsidiary of Hiranandani Group known for its sprawling baroque-style residential and commercial complexes in north Mumbai, has invited bids to build two 190,000 cubic metre LNG storage tanks, allied regasification facilities, LNG receiving facilities, and marine facilities.

H-Gas held a pre-bid in Mumbai in end-July. "They also met each contractor individually," adds another bidder.

"(H-Gas promoter) Darshan Hiranandani sat through meetings to reinforce his intent to go ahead." At the pre-bid, contractors complained about the confidentiality agreement.

"They want confidentiality for five years," laments a source. "Usually it’s six months.

H-Gas insists contractors must pay penalties even if they break the confidentiality agreement unintentionally. "When we objected, Darshan said he doesn't care if contractors want to initiate arbitration proceedings (against H-Gas if there is a dispute over confidentiality)," we are told. "Darshan even suggested it's cheaper to do the arbitration abroad as it is expensive in India!" One contractor tells PETROWATCH he doubts the Jaigarh project, about 200-km south of Mumbai, will materialise. "I don't know how Hiranandani will get $1bn of funding for the project," adds a likely bidder. Hiranandani previously planned to build the LNG terminal at Dighi Port, 170-km south of Mumbai, with Hyundai as Lumpsum Turnkey contractor.

H-Gas insists contractors must pay penalties even if they break the confidentiality agreement unintentionally. "When we objected, Darshan said he doesn't care if contractors want to initiate arbitration proceedings (against H-Gas if there is a dispute over confidentiality)," we are told. "Darshan even suggested it's cheaper to do the arbitration abroad as it is expensive in India!" One contractor tells PETROWATCH he doubts the Jaigarh project, about 200-km south of Mumbai, will materialise. "I don't know how Hiranandani will get $1bn of funding for the project," adds a likely bidder. Hiranandani previously planned to build the LNG terminal at Dighi Port, 170-km south of Mumbai, with Hyundai as Lumpsum Turnkey contractor.